Looking for new ways to deal with the rising ecological challenges in urban areas of the state, the Omar Abdullah government is sending out delegations of MLAs on study tours across the country. In the first such tour, CPM legislator M Y Tarigami left on a two-week tour of West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday to seek fresh ideas to save the environment. Sources said despite the constitution of various committees to implement and review the decisions of the government to deal with pollution caused by emission from industries, vehicular traffic, brick kilns and usage of polythene, the state has failed to take any concrete steps to stop ecological regression. Officials said that more such tours were being planned for MLAs to study different models being adopted across the country to check pollution. A few days ago, the government gave extension to a committee which was to submit its report in December on the measures needed to deal with the pollution caused by cement industries and stone-crushers. Incidentally, the House Committee on Environment, which is headed by Tarigami, has slammed the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and the Pollution Control Board in both Srinagar and Jammu for its failure to treat and scientifically dispose of solid waste. “There is utter chaos. Jammu and Srinagar are not ready to deal with the waste generated by the present population. Even the basic infrastructure and mechanism for pollution control are not in place,” said a senior official in the Urban Housing Department. Officials said there were no fixed sites for disposal of solid waste at a time when the capital cities were generating nearly 400 tonnes of waste daily. There were no check on emissions by brick kilns and stone-crushers and use of polythene. “Several announcements have been made for action against polluting brick kilns, but on the ground just half-hearted measures have been taken. Most of the solid waste contains polythene, which has chocked several drains and streams”, said an official. Tarigami, who is currently touring West Bengal, said: “Environmental damage is a challenge the world over and not confined to J&K. Our efforts have been to find ways to strike a balance between development and environment protection,” said Tarigami. He claimed that new laws were being framed to deal with the challenges, especially in urban centres of the state. Pollution goes unchecked. A government report says 65 brick kilns and 32 stone-crushers are operating unauthorisedly in J&K. The Pollution Control Board and the authorities concerned have failed to close these units Despite a ban imposed by the government, the municipal corporations in Jammu and Srinagar are still burning solid waste. No dumping ground has been identified for the waste There’s no mechanism to deal with tonnes of polythene seized by the authorities. It is still dumped in godowns The Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility is in limbo even five years after the proposal was okayed